# 善

| 善 | U+5584, &#21892; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5584 |
| ← 喃 [U+5583] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 喅 → [U+5585] |
| 善 | U+2F845, &#194629; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F845 |
| ← 啣 [U+2F844] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement | 善 → [U+2F846] |
| 善 | U+2F846, &#194630; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F846 |
| ← 善 [U+2F845] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement | 喙 → [U+2F847] |

## Translingual
### Han character

善 (Kangxi radical 30, 口+9, 12 strokes, cangjie input 廿土廿口 (TGTR) or 廿廿口 (TTR), four-corner 8060$_5$, composition ⿻羊⿱䒑口 or ⿳𦍌䒑口)

#### Derived characters

* 僐, 𠾺, 墡, 嫸, 𢢆, 𢵈, 㵛, 𮥣, 𨗚, 𪱋, 橏, 𣩧, 㷽, 𤩕, 𥛶, 膳, 𦏎, 𥊳, 磰, 𮃬, 𮖯, 𫅜, 繕(缮), 𦗢, 蟮, 𭀺, 𧬆, 𮜖, 𨣁, 𬹎, 𫅞, 鐥(䦅), 𡅐, 饍, 𩦐, 𫅡, 鱔(鳝), 𪍶, 𭨔
* 𡆃, 𠟤, 鄯, 𭟽, 㪨, 敾, 歚, 𬙽, 𭌠, 𬙿, 𡄰, 𩕊(𬱱), 𬚁, 𬞗, 𤺪

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 197, character 18
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 3904
* Dae Jaweon: page 418, character 38
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 660, character 2
* Unihan data for U+5584
* Unihan data for U+2F845
* Unihan data for U+2F846

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 善 :
| Western Zhou | Warring States | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) |
| Bronze inscriptions | Chu slip and silk script | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts |
| | Old Chinese |
| 橏 | *tjenʔ |
| 嫸 | *tjenʔ |
| 善 | *ɡjenʔ |
| 譱 | *ɡjenʔ |
| 蟮 | *djanʔ |
| 鱔 | *djanʔ |
| 僐 | *djenʔ, *djens |
| 鄯 | *djenʔ, *djens |
| 墡 | *djenʔ |
| 磰 | *djenʔ |
| 繕 | *ɡjens |
| 膳 | *djens |
| 饍 | *djens |
Originally written 譱 in bronze inscriptions, consisting of two 言 (OC *ŋan) and one 羊. The 言 (OC *ŋan) might have served as the phonetic component, while 羊 represented the sense "good; beautiful". The small seal script of 善 was simplified from the bronze inscription form, consisting of one 言 below one 羊.
According to Shuowen, the form 譱 is an ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意) : 誩 (“to wrangle”) + 羊 (“sheep”) – good; virtuous. This interpretation may be difficult to comprehend.

### Etymology

Probably related to 繕 (OC *ɡjens, “to mend; to repair”).

### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): shàn (shan$^4$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄕㄢˋ
    (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): shān
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): sin$^6$
    (Dongguan, Jyutping++): sin$^3$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): sen$^5$
* Gan (Wiktionary): sen$^5$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): san
    (Hailu, HRS): shan$^˖$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): san$^4$
* Jin (Wiktionary): san$^3$
* Northern Min (KCR): sīng
* Eastern Min (BUC): siêng
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): seng$^5$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): siān
    (Teochew, Peng'im): siêng$^6$ / siang$^6$
    (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): xieng$^6$
* Wu (Northern, Wugniu): $^6$zoe / $^6$zie / $^4$ze / $^4$zoe / $^6$zuon / $^4$zeen / $^4$zoen
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): shenn$^5$ / shenn$^4$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: shàn
*** Zhuyin: ㄕㄢˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: shàn
*** Wade–Giles: shan$^4$
*** Yale: shàn
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shann
*** Palladius: шань (šanʹ)
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂän⁵¹/
** (Xi'an)
*** Guanzhong Pinyin: shān
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂã⁵⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sin$^6$
*** Yale: sihn
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sin$^6$
*** Guangdong Romanization: xin$^6$
*** Sinological IPA : /siːn²²/
** (Dongguan, Guancheng)
*** Jyutping++: sin$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /sin³²/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: sen$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /sen³²/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: sen$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /sɛn¹¹/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: san
*** Hakka Romanization System: san
*** Hagfa Pinyim: san$^4$
*** Sinological IPA: /san⁵⁵/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: shan$^˖$
*** Sinological IPA: /ʃan³³/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: san$^4$
*** Sinological IPA: /san⁵³/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: san$^3$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /sæ̃⁴⁵/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: sīng
*** Sinological IPA : /siŋ⁵⁵/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: siêng
*** Sinological IPA : /siɛŋ²⁴²/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: seng$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /ɬɛŋ²¹/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siān
*** Tâi-lô: siān
*** Phofsit Daibuun: sien
*** IPA (Xiamen): /siɛn²²/
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /siɛn⁴¹/
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /siɛn²²/
*** IPA (Taipei): /siɛn³³/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /siɛn³³/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: siêng$^6$ / siang$^6$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: siĕng / siăng
*** Sinological IPA : /sieŋ³⁵/, /siaŋ³⁵/
** (Leizhou)
*** Leizhou Pinyin: xieng$^6$
*** Sinological IPA: /sieŋ³³/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Kunshan, Changzhou, Ningbo)
*** Wugniu: $^6$zoe
*** MiniDict: zoe$^去$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^3$zoe
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zø²³/
*** Sinological IPA (Chongming): /szø³¹³/
*** Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /zø²³¹/
*** Sinological IPA (Kunshan): /zø²¹³/
*** Sinological IPA (Changzhou): /zɵ²⁴/
*** Sinological IPA (Ningbo): /zø¹¹³/
** (Northern: Jiading)
*** Wugniu: $^6$zie
*** MiniDict: zie$^去$
*** Sinological IPA (Jiading): /zɪ¹³/
** (Northern: Songjiang)
*** Wugniu: $^4$ze
*** Sinological IPA (Songjiang): /ze²²/
** (Northern: Jiaxing)
*** Wugniu: $^4$zoe
*** MiniDict: zoe$^上$
*** Sinological IPA (Jiaxing): /zɤə²¹³/
** (Northern: Hangzhou)
*** Wugniu: $^6$zuon
*** MiniDict: zuon$^去$
*** Sinological IPA (Hangzhou): /zzʷõ¹¹³/
** (Northern: Shaoxing)
*** Wugniu: $^4$zeen
*** MiniDict: zen$^上$
*** Sinological IPA (Shaoxing): /zẽ¹¹³/
** (Northern: Shaoxing, Zhoushan)
*** Wugniu: $^4$zoen
*** MiniDict: zoeon$^上$
*** Sinological IPA (Shaoxing): /zø̃¹¹³/
*** Sinological IPA (Zhoushan): /zø²⁴/
* Xiang
** (Changsha)
*** Wiktionary: shenn$^5$ / shenn$^4$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /ʂə̃²¹/, /ʂə̃⁴⁵/
*** Sinological IPA (new-style): /sə̃²¹/, /sə̃⁴⁵/
* shenn5 - vernacular;
* shenn4 - literary.
* Middle Chinese: dzyenX
Rime :
| Character | 善 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 常 (25) |
| Final (韻) | 仙 (77) |
| Tone (調) | Rising (X) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 常演切 |
| Baxter | dzyenX |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /d͡ʑiᴇn$^X$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /d͡ʑiɛn$^X$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /d͡ʑjæn$^X$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /d͡ʑian$^X$/ |
| Li Rong | /ʑiɛn$^X$/ |
| Wang Li | /ʑĭɛn$^X$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ʑi̯ɛn$^X$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | shàn |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | sin$^6$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[ɡ]e[n]ʔ/
    (Zhengzhang): /*ɡjenʔ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 善 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | shàn |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ dzyen$^X$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*[ɡ]e[n]ʔ/ |
| English | good |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 善 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 11084 |
| Phonetic component | 善 |
| Rime group | 元 |
| Rime subdivision | 2 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 善 |
| Old Chinese | /*ɡjenʔ/ |

### Definitions

善
* good; virtuous; charitable; kind
    Antonym: 惡 / 恶
    善事 ― shànshì ― good deed; charitable deed
    From: Three Character Classic, circa 13th century CE
    Rén zhī chū, xìng běn shàn. [Pinyin]
    Men at their birth, are naturally good.
    From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE
    Zǐyuē: “Shànrén wéi bāng bǎinián, yì kěyǐ shèngcánqùshā yǐ. Chéng zāi shì yán yě!” [Pinyin]
    The Master said, "'If good men were to govern a country in succession for a hundred years, they would be able to transform the violently bad, and dispense with capital punishments.' True indeed is this saying!"
* good; fine; desirable
    善策 ― shàncè ― good solution
    From: c. 9th century, Liu Zongyuan, 遊黃溪記
    Qíjiān míng shānshuǐ ér zhōu zhě yǐ bǎi shù, Yǒng zuì shàn. [Pinyin]
    (please add an English translation of this quotation)
** (literary) to regard as good
    From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE
    Wáng rú shàn zhī, zé héwéi bù xíng? [Pinyin]
    Since your Majesty deems them excellent, why do you not practise them?
* good deed
    行善 ― xíngshàn ― to do good deeds
* to be good at
    善交際／善交际 ― shàn jiāojì ― to be a mixer
    能歌善舞 ― nénggēshànwǔ ― to be good at singing and dancing
    From: The Art of War, circa 5th century BCE
    Gù shàn fù mín zhě, shì nǎi shàn yòngbīng zhě yě. Gù bīng yào zàihū shàn fù mín éryǐ. [Pinyin]
    (please add an English translation of this quotation)
* easily
    善變／善变 ― shànbiàn ― to be changeable; to be prone or apt to change
    善忘 ― shànwàng ― forgetful
* appropriately; all out; earnestly
    善用 ― shànyòng ― to use properly
    善自珍重 ― shàn zì zhēnzhòng ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
* to be friendly with; to be on friendly terms with
    From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE
    Yíwú shàn Bào Shūyá. [Pinyin]
    (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5th – 3rd centuries BCE
    Qíhòu Qín yù fá Qí, Qí, chǔ zhī jiāo shàn, Huì Wáng huàn zhī. [Pinyin]
    (please add an English translation of this quotation)
* (literary) to like
    From: The Verses of Chu, 4th century BCE – 2nd century CE
    Yì yú xīn zhī suǒ shàn xī, suī jiǔ sǐ qí yóuwèi huǐ. [Pinyin]
    (please add an English translation of this quotation)
* (literary) Used to express agreement or commendation.; Good!
    From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4th century BCE, translation from Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" (2017), by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg
    Mèng Xiànzǐ yuē: “Qǐng chéng Hǔláo yǐ bī Zhèng.” Zhī Wǔzǐ yuē: “Shàn.” [Pinyin]
    Meng Xianzi said, "I request that Hulao be fortified to exert pressure on Zheng." Zhi Ying said, "Excellent."
* (Taishanese, euphemistic) to die
    去善 [Taishanese] ― hui$^1$ sen$^5$ [Wiktionary] ― go to hell

#### Synonyms

| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 好, 良, 善, 佳 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 好, 良好, 美好, 佳 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 好, 強 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 好 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 好 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 好, 賽, 強 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 好, 嫽 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 好 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 好, 傲 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 好 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 好, 㜺 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 好, 㜺 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 好 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 好 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 好 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 好 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 好 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 好, 㜺 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 好 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 好 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 好 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 好 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 好 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 好 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 好 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 好 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 好 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 好 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 好 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 好 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 好 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 好 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 好 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 好 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hainanese) | 好 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 好 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 好, 㜺, 靈, 嗲 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Songjiang) | 畢㜺 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chuansha, Pudong) | 出客 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Nanhui, Pudong) | 出客 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Fengxian) | 靈 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Jinshan) | 靈 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 好, 㜺 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 好 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 好 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 好 |

### Compounds

* 三善道
* 不善 (bùshàn)
* 不得善終 / 不得善终 (bùdéshànzhōng)
* 乏善可陳 / 乏善可陈 (fáshànkěchén)
* 人善得人欺，馬善得人騎 / 人善得人欺，马善得人骑 (rén shàn dé rén qī, mǎ shàn dé rén qí)
* 伏善
* 伐善
* 來者不善 / 来者不善
* 偽善 / 伪善 (wěishàn)
* 公善 (gōngshàn)
* 兼善
* 兼善天下
* 勸善 / 劝善 (quànshàn)
* 勸善懲惡 / 劝善惩恶 (quànshànchéng'è)
* 勸善戒惡 / 劝善戒恶
* 勸善規過 / 劝善规过
* 勸善黜惡 / 劝善黜恶
* 十善
* 友善 (yǒushàn)
* 向善 (xiàngshàn)
* 和善 (héshàn)
* 善事 (shànshì)
* 善人 (shànrén)
* 善信 (shànxìn)
* 善價 / 善价
* 善刀而藏
* 善化 (Shànhuà)
* 善哉 (shànzāi)
* 善善從長 / 善善从长
* 善善惡惡 / 善善恶恶
* 善堂 (shàntáng)
* 善報 / 善报 (shànbào)
* 善士 (shànshì)
* 善女 (shànnǚ)
* 善始令終 / 善始令终
* 善始善終 / 善始善终
* 善導 / 善导
* 善巧便佞
* 善待 (shàndài)
* 善後 / 善后 (shànhòu)
* 善心 (shànxīn)
* 善心人士 (shànxīn rénshì)
* 善惡 / 善恶 (shàn'è)
* 善意 (shànyì)
* 善感 (shàngǎn)
* 善戰 / 善战 (shànzhàn)
* 善才
* 善才童子
* 善政 (shànzhèng)
* 善敗 / 善败
* 善於 / 善于 (shànyú)
* 善書 / 善书
* 善本 (shànběn)
* 善果 (shànguǒ)
* 善柔
* 善根 (shàngēn)
* 善棍
* 善歲 / 善岁
* 善氣迎人 / 善气迎人
* 善用 (shànyòng)
* 善男信女 (shànnán xìnnǚ)
* 善知識 / 善知识 (shànzhīshí)
* 善終 / 善终 (shànzhōng)
* 善緣 / 善缘
* 善罷干休
* 善罷甘休 / 善罢甘休 (shànbàgānxiū)
* 善自為謀 / 善自为谋
* 善與人交 / 善与人交
* 善舉 / 善举 (shànjǔ)
* 善良 (shànliáng)
* 善行 (shànxíng)
* 善解人意 (shànjiěrényì)
* 善變 / 善变 (shànbiàn)
* 善財 / 善财 (Shàncái)
* 善財難捨 / 善财难舍
* 善賈 / 善贾
* 善賈而沽 / 善贾而沽
* 善門難開 / 善门难开
* 善靈 / 善灵 (shànlíng)
* 善頌善禱 / 善颂善祷
* 善類 / 善类 (shànlèi)
* 善馬熟人 / 善马熟人
* 嘉言善行
* 多多益善 (duōduōyìshàn)
* 多愁善感 (duōchóushàngǎn)
* 多謀善斷 / 多谋善断
* 多財善賈 / 多财善贾
* 多錢善賈 / 多钱善贾
* 好善嫉惡 / 好善嫉恶
* 好善惡惡 / 好善恶恶
* 好善樂施 / 好善乐施
* 好施樂善 / 好施乐善
* 好謀善斷 / 好谋善断
* 妥善 (tuǒshàn)
* 妙善 (miàoshàn)
* 妙善公主
* 嫉惡好善 / 嫉恶好善
* 守死善道
* 完善 (wánshàn)
* 宿善
* 寸善片長 / 寸善片长
* 履中行善
* 巧言善色
* 平善
* 廣結善緣 / 广结善缘
* 廣行善事 / 广行善事
* 彰善癉惡 / 彰善瘅恶
* 從善如流 / 从善如流 (cóngshànrúliú)
* 從善若流 / 从善若流
* 循循善誘 / 循循善诱 (xúnxúnshànyòu)
* 心善 (xīnshàn)
* 性善說 / 性善说 (xìngshànshuō)
* 恂恂善誘 / 恂恂善诱
* 慈善 (císhàn)
* 慈善事業 / 慈善事业
* 慈善家 (císhànjiā)
* 慈善機構 / 慈善机构 (císhàn jīgòu)
* 慈眉善目 (címéishànmù)
* 懲惡勸善 / 惩恶劝善 (chéng'èquànshàn)
* 懲惡獎善 / 惩恶奖善
* 扶善懲惡 / 扶善惩恶
* 抑惡揚善 / 抑恶扬善
* 掩惡揚善 / 掩恶扬善
* 掩賢妒善 / 掩贤妒善
* 推賢樂善 / 推贤乐善
* 推賢舉善 / 推贤举善
* 推賢進善 / 推贤进善
* 擇善固執 / 择善固执 (zéshàngùzhí)
* 擇善而從 / 择善而从
* 擇善而行 / 择善而行
* 攘善
* 改善 (gǎishàn)
* 改惡向善 / 改恶向善
* 改惡從善 / 改恶从善 (gǎi'ècóngshàn)
* 改惡行善 / 改恶行善
* 改行遷善 / 改行迁善
* 改過向善 / 改过向善
* 改過從善 / 改过从善
* 改過遷善 / 改过迁善
* 旌善懲惡 / 旌善惩恶
* 日行一善 (rìxíngyīshàn)
* 明德止善
* 明眸善睞 / 明眸善睐
* 是非善惡 / 是非善恶
* 服善
* 樂善 / 乐善 (lèshàn)
* 樂善不倦 / 乐善不倦
* 樂善好施 / 乐善好施 (lèshànhàoshī)
* 樂善好義 / 乐善好义
* 欺善怕惡 / 欺善怕恶 (qīshànpà'è)
* 止惡揚善 / 止恶扬善 (zhǐ'èyángshàn)
* 止於至善 / 止于至善 (zhǐyúzhìshàn)
* 武不善作
* 殘賢害善 / 残贤害善
* 洪善 (Hóngshàn)
* 淑善君子 (shū shàn jūnzǐ)
* 為善 / 为善 (wéishàn)
* 為善最樂 / 为善最乐 (wéishàn zuì lè)
* 片善
* 片善小才
* 獨善 / 独善
* 獨善其身 / 独善其身
* 疾惡好善 / 疾恶好善
* 癉惡彰善 / 瘅恶彰善
* 盡善盡美 / 尽善尽美 (jìnshànjìnměi)
* 盡美盡善 / 尽美尽善
* 真善美 (zhēn-shàn-měi)
* 眾口稱善 / 众口称善
* 矜功伐善
* 知人善任 (zhīrénshànrèn)
* 福善禍淫 / 福善祸淫 (fúshànhuòyín)
* 積善 / 积善 (jīshàn)
* 積善之家，必有餘慶 / 积善之家，必有余庆 (jīshàn zhī jiā, bì yǒu yúqìng)
* 積善餘慶 / 积善余庆
* 美善 (měishàn)
* 聖善 / 圣善
* 能文善武
* 能言善辯 / 能言善辩 (néngyánshànbiàn)
* 能言善道
* 能說善道 / 能说善道
* 至善 (zhìshàn)
* 至善至美
* 與人為善 / 与人为善 (yǔrénwéishàn)
* 良善 (liángshàn)
* 英勇善戰 / 英勇善战
* 蒲邑三善
* 行善 (xíngshàn)
* 褒善貶惡 / 褒善贬恶
* 親善 / 亲善 (qīnshàn)
* 親善大使 / 亲善大使
* 諄諄善誘 / 谆谆善诱
* 諱過稱善 / 讳过称善
* 謙善 / 谦善
* 責善 / 责善
* 賞善罰惡 / 赏善罚恶
* 贊善 / 赞善
* 軟善 / 软善
* 遏惡揚善 / 遏恶扬善
* 遷善 / 迁善
* 遷善改過 / 迁善改过
* 遷善遠罪 / 迁善远罪
* 鄯善 (Shànshàn)
* 長袖善舞 / 长袖善舞 (chángxiùshànwǔ)
* 除惡扶善 / 除恶扶善
* 隱惡揚善 / 隐恶扬善 (yǐn'èyángshàn)
* 面善 (miànshàn)
* 面善心惡 / 面善心恶
* 面善心狠 (miànshàn xīnhěn)
* 面惡心善 / 面恶心善 (miàn è xīn shàn)
* 首善
* 首善之區 / 首善之区 (shǒushànzhīqū)
* 首善之地 (shǒushànzhīdì)
* 馴善 / 驯善
* 騎者善墮 / 骑者善堕
* 點頭稱善 / 点头称善

### References

* “善”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Sixth grade kyōiku kanji)
* virtue
* goodness

#### Readings

* Go-on: ぜん (zen, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: せん (sen)
* Kun: よい (yoi, 善い, Jōyō)
* Nanori: よし (yoshi)

### Etymology

* Kanji in this term
* 善
* ぜん Grade: 6
* goon
From Middle Chinese 善 (MC dzyenX).

### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) ぜん [zéꜜǹ] (Atamadaka – [1])
* IPA: [d͡zẽ̞ɴ]

### Noun

善(ぜん) • (zen)
* good, good deed
    Antonym: 悪 (aku)
** 1946, 三木清, 親鸞‎, 青空文庫:
    外(そと)においてどれほど善(ぜん)を行(おこ)なおうとしても、悪心(あくしん)は絶(た)えず裏(うら)から潜(ひそ)んでくる。
       Soto ni oite dore hodo zen o okonaō to shite mo, akushin wa taezu ura kara hisonde kuru.
       No matter how much good one tries to do outside, evil thoughts will always come lurking from behind it.

#### Derived terms

* 善(ぜん)に従(したが)うこと流(なが)るるが如(ごと)し (zen ni shitagau koto nagaruru ga gotoshi)
* 善(ぜん)に強(つよ)い者(もの)は悪(あく)にも強(つよ)い (zen ni tsuyoi mono wa aku ni mo tsuyoi)
* 善(ぜん)の裏(うら)は悪(あく) (zen no ura wa aku)
* 善(ぜん)の綱(つな) (zen no tsuna)
* 善(ぜん)は急(いそ)げ (zen wa isoge)
* 善(ぜん)を責(せ)むるは朋友(ほうゆう)の道(みち)なり (zen o semuru wa hōyū no michi nari)

## Korean
### Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Middle Korean readings, if any”)

### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [sʰʌ̹n]
* Phonetic hangul: [선]

### Hanja

Wikisource 善 (eumhun 착할 선 (chakhal seon))
* hanja form of 선 (“good, nice”)

#### Compounds

* 대선 (大善, daeseon)
* 자선 (慈善, jaseon)

## Vietnamese
### Han character

善: Hán Nôm readings: thiện
* chữ Hán form of thiện (“kind, virtue, good”).